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    • Volleyball season rankings, district divisions in Fort Myers, Naples and Cape Coral
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    Volleyball season rankings, district divisions in Fort Myers, Naples and Cape Coral

    Vaseline Posted on

    The high school volleyball season is already halfway over.

    In about a month and a half, some of Florida’s best teams will come to Polk State College to compete for state championships in eight classes.

    As we head into the second half of the season, here are our midseason rankings, along with some surprising storylines and an early look at the district play and who we think would win if the season ended today. Our next set of rankings will be released on Tuesday, October 1st.

    TO VOTE: Who will be voted SW Florida Volleyball Player of the Year midway through the season?

    Reports of matches played up to and including Wednesday 18 September

    1. First Baptists (9-1)

    Last week: 4

    Analysis: The Lions made a bold statement last week by becoming the first local team in three years to defeat Seacrest Country Day and then winning the Private 8 title against Canterbury two days later. First Baptist’s block was exceptionally effective against the Stingrays, forcing 19 offensive errors. If the Lions can defeat Seacrest again on Thursday night and put together a solid performance at the Wildcat Invite, they will cement their status as the best team in Southwest Florida.

    Mid-Season Players of the Year: SW Florida Volleyball MVPs at Midway Point of High School Season

    2. Seacrest Country Day (9-5)

    Last week: 1

    Analysis: The Stingrays lost to First Baptist in five sets, but recovered nicely to sweep Community School in the Private 8 third-place game. Sami Soderlund and Adriana Garcia continue to lead Seacrest, with 179 and 129 kills, respectively. If Andy Wimmer can beat First Baptist on Thursday night, the top spot in our rankings on October 1 could be theirs.

    3. Canterbury (7-2)

    Last week: 2

    Analysis: The Cougars are coming off two straight losses, losing their last two games to First Baptist and IMG Royal after beating SFCA and Community School. Canterbury has depended on Brighten Sedmack and Charlotte Laquis this season and will continue to do so in the final stretch of the postseason. The Cougars are in prime position to bounce back at this weekend’s Wildcat Invite, with Fort Myers, Naples and St. John Neumann in their pool.

    4. Community school (5-3)

    Last week: 3

    Analysis: The Seahawks suffered back-to-back losses to Canterbury and Seacrest in Private 8 action last week, but opened with an opening-round win over St. John Neumann. Alicia MacIntyre’s team is still young, but has all the pieces needed to stand out when it counts. CSN will look to defend their title at the Wildcat Invite on Saturday, but to do so, they’ll look to defeat Aubrey Rogers and enter Saturday with momentum.

    5.Barron Collier (7-3)

    Last week: 5

    Analysis: The Cougars have won seven straight CCAC games, which was close to what they expected to do before the season. However, Tuesday night’s result against Gulf Coast drew some attention, as the Sharks nearly completed the reverse sweep before falling 15-11 in the fifth set. Barron’s path to extending its winning streak will be a tough one, especially with CSN, Riverdale and Bishop Verot in its pool for the Wildcat Invite.

    6. Estero (11-2)

    Last week: 7

    Analysis: Outside of a loss to North Fort Myers without star player Sofia King, this Wildcats team has held its own despite being much younger than last year’s group. Estero has won each of their last 11 sets, which carries a lot of momentum going into this weekend. They’ll look to extend their winning streak against Palmetto Ridge on Thursday before playing the Bears again on Saturday, along with Port Charlotte and Divine Savior in the pool stage.

    7. Gulf Coast (7-6)

    Last week: 8

    Analysis: The Sharks continue to struggle, going 2-3 at the Lake Howell Invitational before falling short to Barron Collier in five sets. Gulf Coast continues to make strides despite its young age, with Juliette VanWagner, Alyssa Tadysak, Cassandra Maldonado, Addi Dumont and Nelinka Lambcke leading the way. The Sharks will face Fort Myers and Riverdale next week, both of which could be district matches in October.

    8. Oasis (11-2)

    Last week: 9

    Analysis: The Sharks are finding ways to win under coach Justin Altman, with a top 100 ranking in the state along with what is shaping up to be their best season since 2014. Vanessa Moriarty and Jordan Baksh continue to make an impact on the offensive front for Oasis, combining for 198 kills. Sophia Skala has 29 blocks in the middle, while Sarah Mikulus leads the team with 145 digs. The Sharks will take on Golden Gate before playing Evangelical Christian and St. John Neumann next week.

    9. Marco Island (8-4)

    Last week: 10

    Analysis: The Rays were hoping for a better performance on Monday against Seacrest, but were blown out at home. Marco Island easily recovered against Donahue Catholic with a sweep of the Shamrocks. The Rays have had their share of tests this season and will be tested even more in the coming days, with dates against Canterbury, Charlotte, First Baptist and Bonita Springs scheduled.

    10. Bishop Verot (9-3)

    Last week: NR

    Analysis: The Vikings have responded well after a first-round loss to First Baptist in the Private 8 quarterfinals, defeating ECS, Neumann, and Sarasota since then. Maddie Knaak has become the team’s alpha on offense, leading all players with 161 kills to just 29 offensive errors. Verot has a chance to top Oasis and Marco Island this weekend at the Wildcat Invite, where they’ll be in a pool with Riverdale, CSN, and Barron Collier.

    First five out: St. John Neumann (6-4), LaBelle (10-1), Fort Myers (4-3), SFCA (9-7), Riverdale (6-4)

    SWFL VOLLEYBALL SURPRISES IN 2024

    First Baptist has become a legitimate 2A title contender

    Few would have given the Lions a chance in a loaded Private 8, but they’ve answered the bell every time so far this season. Having the area’s best player to date in Zara Stewart certainly helps, but the progressions of Peyton Garrick, Jade Rau, Laila Stewart, Maleda Azunque, Maddie Johnessee, and Maggie Adamczyk have been just as impactful. Expect this team to be a legitimate contender to go to Winter Haven and potentially leave with some hardware.

    Oasis emerges as a possible dormant location in District 3A-10

    The Sharks have found a winning formula, on track to make the playoffs when the season ends today. They’re in contention with Bishop Verot for a district championship, and that could determine who makes it to the postseason. This region currently has eight top 100 teams, with Oasis and Verot sitting seventh and eighth in the region, respectively.

    Estero could contend for a spot in the Final Four despite key losses

    The Wildcats haven’t gotten enough credit for what they’ve accomplished this season under John Ban. Ban was the first to point out that this season could be a “reload year” instead of a “rebuild year,” and that’s been the case through 13 games. Despite losing Gia Rosencrans, Sophie Perkins, Ashlynn Ban, Katelyn Carroll and Kaelyn Wilson to graduation, this team has been rock solid so far. The fact that Sofia King is arguably the best and most experienced setter in the area doesn’t hurt either, especially with a young offensive group around her.

    PREDICTING DISTRICT TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

    Class 1A-District 12

    There is no reason to suggest that the Stingrays, who have state title aspirations, will fail in this district. Seacrest is cruising to its first district title under Andy Wimmer.

    Class 2A-District 9

    In a district full of competitive teams, First Baptist’s path is the easiest, set to take on the winner of the 4 vs. 5 matchup. With Canterbury and Community School looking like the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in this district, the Lions can capture a district title under Marci Walker.

    Class 3A-District 10

    In a four-team district, it will be a race between Bishop Verot and Oasis. The Vikings are battle-tested, with nearly double the strength of Oasis’ schedule. A tough schedule pays off for many teams in the final stages. Expect a similar story to unfold with Christy Curtis and her Verot team here.

    Class 4A-District 13

    The Wildcats have the best chance to win another district title in this eight-team district. Barron Collier, a popular pick, is ranked 219th in the state and third in this district, behind Estero and LaBelle. With Barron more than 100 behind, it’s tough to pick against John Ban’s Wildcats, but keep an eye on the Cowgirls, who are 10-1 but lack a quality win with a 1.97 strength.

    Class 5A-District 12

    Port Charotte’s Nygeria Hart is really, really good. End of story. The FGCU commit comes through when it matters again against North Fort Myers.

    Class 5A-District 13

    Similar to Verot’s strength-of-schedule dilemma, Gulf Coast will be tested by the time district play begins. Despite potentially hovering around .500, the Sharks deserve to be the favorite, top seed or not.

    Class 6A-District 12

    In one of the weaker districts in the region, Charlotte should have no trouble winning another district championship against Ida Baker, Gateway or Palmetto Ridge.

    Class 7A-District 12

    Building a winning pedigree over the years will help Venice here after losing head coach Brian Wheatley to Alabama. There’s no reason to play the favorite and likely No. 1 seed now.

    Follow sports reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @nieuwspresssports And @ndnprepzone on Instagram.

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